Tramway friction grip



May 28, 1929. F. w. REILLY 1,714,625

TRAMWAY FRICT'TON GRIP Filed Dec. 19. 1927 3 sheets-sheet 1 May 28, 14929. F. w. REMY" 1,114,625

TRAMWAY LFRTCTION GRIP Filed Deo, 19, 1927 s sheets-sheet 2 May 28, 1929. F. w. REILLY TRAMWAY FRICTION GRIP 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 19, 1927 lll-lllwww.'

Patented May 28, 19,29. L

UNIT Njs"ia"igEs f f 1,714,625 TENT Q'FFIQB FRANK WARD REILLY, or` cHATTANooGA, Y'T-nimEssi-iii.

TRAMWAY FniofrroN emr.

Application filed December 19, 1927, l'Seial 1\To.1241,161.'V

This invention relates to friction grips designed primarilyA for use in connection with aerial tramways for the purpose of coupling overhead carriers to and uncoupling lthem from the traction rope.

rIt is essential that a friction grip be so constructed as to tightly clamp a traction rope when the carrier reaches predetermined points and thereafter to become automatically released from the traction rope atvde-k sired points. This traction rope, however, is not always of the same diameter it is essential, therefore, that the gripping v means be so constructed as to properly grip r the rope at anyv point presented thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide' a friction grip having means wherebythe traction ropewill be clamped 'thereinl with the saine efficiency whether the rope be thin orv thick at the point where it is gripped, thus insuring proper coupling rof the traction rope to the carrier..

A further object isto provide la frictionv grip which is simple and efficient in construction and which utilizes a differential mechanism, whereby, when the grip is thrown .into action by suitable tripping means employed for thatpurpose, it will be operated with a rfast closing action until it comes into Contact with the traction rope at which time the gripping will take place at a slow speed but .with increased power irrespective of the distance the grip jaws-have closed during the grippingioperation, the pressure upon the traction rope being predetermined within reasonably .close limits at all times.

' A further object is to provide a friction grip whichkis, rotatably mounted whereby it can be revolved through one-hundred eighty degrees to allowthe engagement and disengagement of the traction rope to take place should said rope be arranged toenter the grip from the top or from the bottom.

Another object is to kprovide a friction .grip the bearing area of which is greater than ordinarily permissible, thereby reducing the unit bearingv pressure on the working parts and prolonging the life of the apparatus. y f

A still further Objectis to provide a grip having a full floating lever 'for use in the application and disengagement of theA trips relative to the traction line. Y i

Another object is to provide a grip having its important working parts completely vtion line.

enclosed, thereby to protect them by retaining' 'lubricant andv excluding foreign matter. f

yAnother objectlis toprovide a grip so designed that the more important parts may be made'v of a high grade or' alloy steel not ordinarily possible inl connectionwith tram way grips.

lilith the foregoing and other objects in.

view whichwill appear astlie description proceeds, the invention resides in the' combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made v within the scope` of whatv is claimed, without departing from'the spirit of the invention.l In the accompanying drawings, the preferred Vforms y of' the invention have been y shown; v

In said drawings,

F igureA l is a central vlongitudinal section vthrough'the friction gripv showingl the jaws spaced to' receive a traction' line or cable therebetween.- i

section on line 4 4, Fig- Figure 7 is a section through form offriction 'grip` Figure 8 is a sectionv 'through' another form thereof. `l y y Figure 9 is a section through a third modication of the device. I

Figure 10 is a section on line 1'0-10,

a modified kFigure 9.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference l designates the tubular body of the devicewhich can be made'of a casting vand has a projecting portion 2 'at one end from which extends ,af xed jaw 3. This fixed jaw 3 has a recessk 4 inwhich is seated is being detached from the tracllO end of the fixed jaw 3 and hasv a lip 8A extending therefrom, this lip andthe free end portion of the j aw 3 being provided with beveled faces which convergeinwardly as showniat 9. The bodyl is provided adjacent its center with an annular groove 10 designed to receive a split collar or thelike whereby the'body can be properly supported relative to the carrier structure C with which Vthe friction grip is used. Any suitable means7 not shown, can be employed for limiting the rotation of body 1 within this sleeve 11 although it is to be understood that the body can be rot-ated through 180o relative to the collar to permit thetraction rope to Venter from the top instead of from the bottom.

` rrlhe body 1 'is interiorly screw threaded at' that end thereof remote from the jaw 3 as indicated at 12, fthisthreaded portion being engaged by a` threaded friction sleeve 13 having its inner end beveled to provide a friction surface 14 while its outer end has an annular flange 15 llapping the adjacent end ofthe body 1 and extending outwardly therebeyond. This flange is held in proper position relative tothe body by a pin or any other suitable means. A driving disk 16 bears against-flange 15 and on the outer 'face thereofis mounted a cap 17. A ring 18 is mounted for rotation on the `reduced Aend portion 19-of the body 1, this ring being formed -with a recess 20 into which the flange lprojccts. `Bolts or other suitable fastening means 21 are employedfor attaching the cap 17 j to the disk 16 and'for fastening said disk to the ring 18. Thus it will .be seen that the ring, disk andthe cap will all rotate together relative tothe body 1. An arm 22 is extended from the ring 18 and carries a wheel 23 adapted to cooperate with suitable tripping'mechanism hereinafter described. A linger 24' extends in the opposite direction fromthe ring 18 and is likewise designed for use in connection with certain `tripping mechanism as will be explained The driving disk 16 has a shank 25 feathered therein atv the center, this shank being provided at one end of a screw 2.6 extending longitudinally within the central'portion ofthe bodyl. That portion of the screw nearest the shank 25 has threads 27 which are pitched more finely .than the threads 28 on the remaining portion'of the screw. 'The coarse threads 28 engage an elongated tubular jaw nut 29 mounted `to work within the'body 41 and an elongated block 30 seated in and extending transversely of that end portion of the nut 29 nearest the jaw 3. This block is held to the nut 29 by a pin 31 extending Within vthe nut and block as shown and the ends of the block 30 are Vad'afpted to slide within slots 32 Aformed in Mounted onthe threaded portion 27 of the screw is a differential nut having a tapered yclutch face 36 adapted to move into and out of engagement with the beveled clutch face 111 of the friction sleeve 13. One end of this differential nut is constantly located within the sleeve 13 and has clutch teeth' 37 projecting therefrom. The other end ofthe differential nut is constantly lapped by the wing 34 and has a lug 38 extending partly therearound so as to'limit the relative inovef ment of the wing 34 and the lug 38.

A driving collar 39 is Afeathered on the stem 25 of screw 26 and has clutch teeth 40 projecting therefrom at points where they can be engaged by the teeth 37 when the screw 26 and its stem or 'shank 25 are moved longitudinally in one direction a predeter-v mined distance. A coiledspringlll is seated at one end on the lhub 42 of the driving` Y disk 16 and at its other end extends around and thrusts against the collar 39 thereby to 'hold said. collar normally pressed against the end of the screw where it .joins the shank 25.

As before explained this frictiongrip is' adapted to be connected to a carrier by` th(l ring or collar 1 1. The body 1 is extended 'transversely of the direction of travel of thev carrier so that'the inclined faces 9 leading to the .space between thejaws will be so located'thatthe "traction rope T can readily be 'deflected into said space. Tn Figures 5 and v6 the carrier C has been shown supported by a carriage A mounted on the supporting rail S.V Normally the floating lever 22 is at one extreme position as shown, for example1 at a in Figure' 5. lVth the lever thus located thevparts of the friction grip are disposed as shown in Figure 1. At the point where the gripis designed to engage the traction rope, rthe rail Sis depressed as Vshown at 7) in Figure 5 and there is arranged at this point anv inclined tripping bar m and a tripping lug jl/ The bar a2 is so located that as the carrier travels down the inclined rail S the wheel 23 carried by ythe floating lever'22'will come against the bar a and travel upwardly therealong until 1t arrives at a point near the top of the bar at which time the finger 24 comes against the lug i, thereby causing the wheel 23 and floating lever-22 to be thrown in the 'direction in- -dicated by the'arrow in Figure 5. Consel against collar 39 and vnut 35 holds the head 4&3 of the shank normally pressed againstV disk 16 as shown `in Figure 1. Thus the differential nut 35 and the collar 39 will, rotate lwith the screw 26 because there is nothing to retard such movement. During this movement of thel screw -the coarse threads 28 thereon wiltforce the tubular nut 29 longitudinally within body luntil the block comes against the' traction rope T and forces it against the-block 5.

Referring to Figure 1, showing` 'a sectional view of the grip with jaws inthe" eXtreme open positions, the clearance between the jaws can be'VA assumed as 115; of an tiiich. Therefore the travel of nut 29 and jaw 30 from position -as shown in Figure 1 to position asshown in Figure'2 in relation to body casting 2 will he fj of an inch. The distance of travel of differential nut fron'i position. as shown in Figure 1 to a position as shown in Figure 2 in rel ation to the body casting 1 will be assumed as l of an inch The angle of action of lever 22. Figure 5, from position fi to position c will be assinned as 135. lnconsidering the movement of of an inch of movable jaw 30, asV

before stated, Vitwill be assumedv that the fast motion of the grip will' cause a moven nient of '/S'of an inch and the slow motion a movementl of the remaining l. in .conf sidering the fast motion of 7/8 of anincb it will be assumed that lever 22. Figure 5, 'will have passed through an angleof 900.

Before the slow motion can become effective the clutch faces, 14 and 36, 'must be engaged and as before stated, differentialnut has a lateral ymovenient of: 116 of au inch from normal position to engagement. rlherefore, when movable jaw' 30 has traveled '7/8 of an inch in relation tothe body casting 1, and at the point of engagement of 'the slow motion, screw 26 has traveled of an inch in relation to nut 29. As this must take place in the angle of movement of 90 it is evident 'that' the pitch of threads ,28 must be four times this relative movement of Jfof an inch or 3% 4inch pitch. Assuming that clutch faces 14 and 36 are now engaged and the relative rotation between nut 35 and body casting 1 stopped, further angular movement of sc-rew 26 will cause it to move backwardly through nut 35. To obtain the slow mot-ion to complete the closing of the jaws the remaining g of an inch, screw 26 must necessarily..backV ofi" through nut 35 vat such a rate that through an angular movement of the remaining l15"- the relative move ment between screw 26 andv nut 35 will be lg of anV inch less than the relative movement. between nut 29 and ,screw-26. -As the lead of threads 2S are inch.ainov'ement of o or 1/8 revolution will cause a relative movement between nut 29 `and 'screw 26 of ofan inch. tween nut 35 and screw-26 must bei@ of an inch less. Therefore this movement would be ofan inch. *As this represents the movement in j/S of a revolution, a total move@ inentper revolution or'in other words the pitch oftlireads 27 would be eightrtiines of an inch or 31/-inch pitch. Thus the slow motion, or the differential inotionasit may be called, of the grip'takes place.

The purpose of the clutclifteeth l0 and 37 is to insure the rotationof the differential nut 35 with screw 26 until the clutch faces le; and 36 have become sufficiently Aengaged to cause the pressure ybetween the vteeth to slightly depress spring 11, thus disengaging their contact. AIn the off position rof .the grip, shown in Figure 1, wing 34 has become engaged with lug 38, preventing. further relative rotation. rleeth 37 and' l() also are' engaged. @n accountof their dcsign and the advancement of the thread through the nut when further rotation of the lever in this direction is attempted, they become self locking and prevent this rotation of screw 26 which is of course, connected to lever 22 throughfplate 16. This assures all working parts being properly returned to their initial position when the grip is coinpletely disengaged. Spring'tl also serves the purpose of maintaining clearance be-v tween clutch faces Hand 36. v

t will be .obvious thatv this mechanism, operating as described, gives a high mechanical advantage and a firm gripping action on the traction rope, this being regardless of any variations in the diameter of the rope. Consequently by having the mechanism described small adjustments heretofore nec,-v essary in friction grips are eliminatedr and it The relative movement bellO does not become necessary to'predeterinine the angle of action ofthe lever within coni- ..115

paratively close limitations. l

. `It will be noted that all of the important worlriiig parts of this grip are 'enclosed within the body. Thusit is possible to thoroughly lubricate them and to protect them from wear due to the admission of foreign 'mattei'. Thecap 17 can be used as a lubricant container and passages, such Aas theone indicated for example at 44: can be usedinv connection with a breather l5 to allow free movement of the air in the body 1 withoutl causing displacement of the lubricant on the bearing surfaces.

It will be apparentthat the grippingV i disclosed may be made without departing vwheel 23.

-Adjacent the upperr end of the rail e but spaced therefrom is a tripping linger t; Thus when, the carrier arrives at the point where it is to beA released from the traction line the wheel 23 will ride upwardly along the bar or rail e until the lever 22 assumes a Vsubstantially vertical position. Wheel 23 then comes against the finger t so that lever 22 isv thrown backwardly past the dead center and is restored to the initial position. has been illustrated at l in Figure 6 while the last of the releasing'positions has been indicated at e. This last position corresponds with position a in Figure 5. Obviously when the floating lever is returned to its initial position by the mechanism shown in Figure 6 or by any other mechanism provided for that purpose, the operation of the parts of the friction grip will be reversed so that the gripping member 30 will be moved away from the gripping member 5. During this movement the arcuate wing 84 will come against the lug 38 (see Figure 3) and vinsure the positive return of all the working parts to their initial positions when the grip is completely restored to releasing position.

The mechanism of the friction grip thus far described constitutes the preferred construction. It is to be understood, however, that different variations of the mechanism from the spirit of the invention. For eX- ample, and as shown in Figure 7 ,the tubular body 46 of the friction grip can be provided with a movable jaw 47 fixed to and carried by a slide 48 the inner end of which islbeveled or otherwise shaped to provide a quick cam 49. The lever 50 is connected to a shank 5l mounted to slide and rotate within ahead 52 connected to one end of the body 46. A friction sleeve 53 is mounted inthe body and has a tapered clutch face 54.

`A spring 55 engaging the head 52 thrusts against collar 55 and a differential-member 56. The collar 55 is similar to collarf39. Member 56 has a tapered clutchA face 57 which is held normally spaced from the clutch face 54 by the action of the spring 55. The member 56 also has a cam face 58 .and

The first of the releasing positions.

4interposed between this cam face and the cam face 49 isa sleeve 59 provided at one end with a cam 60 corresponding with the cam 49 and at its other end with a cam 61 corresponding with the cam 58. This sleeve 59 is keyed to the shank 5l. Thus it will be kseen that when the lever 50 is swung relative-to the body 46, shank 5l will-be rotated and force the member 56 into frictional engagement withfthe sleeve 53, causingclutch teeth between collar 55 and member 56 to become disengaged.

At this time the cam be brought into action resulting in the slow forward feeding of the aw ,47 substantially in the same manner as explained with reference to the structure .illustrated in Figures l to'3 inclusive.

Another modified arrangement whereby similar results can be obtained has been illustrated in lFigure 8. In this formr of device the sliding jaw 63 has a tapered recess 64 and extending from the jaw and beyond the recess is a rod 65. A sleeve 66 isy mounted for limited sliding movement on the rod and has a'tapered clutch member 67 normally locatedwithin but spaced from the wall ofthe recess 64. A spring 68 is seated within the sleeve 66 and constantly thrusts against a Collar 69 on the rod 65. This spring thus serves to hold the clutch Amem,- ber 67 normally spaced from the wall of the `recess 64. Thelever 70 is Vconnected to one end of, a ytubular member 7l which is proafsy faces 58 and 6l will on its outer surface engaging corresponding n threads in the inn-er surface of the body 7 3. Formed within the tubular member 7l and on the outer surface sleeve 66 are cooperating threads 74. The screw threads 72and 74 are right hand and left hand threads respectively and are of different pitches.

Thus, when member 7l is fed Aforwardly and sleeve 66 is held against rotation, the

yforward feeding action by the threads .72 will be almost counteracted with the result that sleeve 66 will advance only at a Vvery ,slow speed.v Thus it will be seen that when vthe lever 7 0 is shifted by they tripping mechanism the member 71 will feed' quickly in l one direction until the jaw 63 comes against the traction line. As soon Vas this jaw is stopped by `Contact with the traction line the resistance of spring 68 will be overcome vand ythe friction-clutch member 67 will come against the wall of the recess 64, thereby coupling the sleeve 66 to the jawy and holding the sleeve against rotation. Consequently the threads 74cwill.come into play and even though the memberV 71 one end with lan extension pin 77 operating as al crank to impart an up and'down move@ ment to a wedge block 78. Aspring pressed sliding pawl 7 9 is carried by this wedge and projects into a recess 80 within an intermedi- 'ate wedge block 81. i Upon application of the friction grip the wedge block 81 is carried downwardly with the wedge block'78 until the frictional' engagement between thevjaw 82 and the blockl 8l becomes snllicient tov cause the disengagement of thepin 80. At'

this point the wedge block 8l is held spaced therein relative to jaw 82 and a slow motion i is then obtained by theI block'78 continuing downward between the surfaces ofthe block 8l and the body casting 83.'. ySpring pressed pins 84 arranged in the jaw 82 are used to maintain clearance between said Vjaw and the block 81 ,as shown particularly in Figure l0 wherein the cooperating faces of these parts are indicated as Abeing vsubstantially vfshaped. This clearance will be maintained until the jawscome into contact with the rope at a predetermined pressure. The pro-jk jection 85 at the bottom of thewedgeblock 78 is for the purpose of returning the Vworking parts to their initial ipositions when they grip is thrown off'.y V

What is claimed is:

`l. A friction grip for aerial tramways andVv the like including fixed and movable jaws, a` lever vfor actuation by tripping means in the path thereof, quickly operable means, actuated by the lever during a portion of the movement thereof for vshifting the movable jaw to bind a traction line or the like againstv the fixed jaw, means for feeding the movable jaw at a slow speed, and means controlled by the pressure of the movable jaw against the gripped line for coupling said slow feeding means to the lever to feed the movable jaw at a slow speed to further grip the line during the completion of the movethe path thereof, quickly means for transmitting motion from the lever to the` movable jaw during aportion ofthe movement of the lever thereby 'to grip an object between thejaws, slow speed feeding means',` and means controlled by .contact ofthe lmovable Vjaw with, the gripped object for coupling the slow speed feeding means tothe lever to actuate the movable jaw ata reducedv speed and gradually increase the' clamping upon the grippedobject during the comple-j tion ofthe movementof the lever. i

3. The' combination witha tubular body mounted for adjustment about its longitudi-l nal axis, and a' fixed jaw carried by said body, of a movable jaw within the body,a lever ,adapted torbe actuated by'an obstruction jin the path thereof, said lever being rotatable relative to the body, yieldi'ngly.'K4

pressed means 'for actuation by the lever during-*a portion ofthe ymovemerrt'thereof for quickly applying; the movable j awto anrv kob ject to grip the-same' against the fixed jaw,

and means controlled by the retardation of the movable jaw and continued.y rotation of:

the lever,"`ffor v'continuing the jmovement of the movable jaw at a reduced speed to further grip the engaged object between ythe j aws.v 4. including a tubular bodyhaving a fixedr jaw A friction ofthe class'described;

at one end, a movable jaw 'carried by the body, a lever rotatable relative'to the body, an elongated nutextending from 'the movablejjaw, a screw having coarsely 'pitched threads engaging the nut, a differential nut' mountedon the screw, saidfscrewdiaving finer pitched threads v`foren'gagement with the differential "nut, af stationary friction.

clutch member within the body, said differ. 1

ential nut having a friction surface' for engagement therewith,` yielding" means foiV holding the friction clutch member and nu( normally separated, and a feathered connection between the screw and the floating lever. y 5. Aifriction grip of they class described including a tubular bodyhaving a fixed jaw at one end, a movable jawA carried by they body, a floating lever rotatable on the body, an elongated nut extending from the"mov. able jaw, a screw having coarsely pitched threads engaging the nut, a differential nut mounted on the screw, saidscrew having finer pitched threads for engagementwith the differential nut, afstationaryk friction clutch member within the body, said differential nut having a friction surface for engagement therewith, yielding means "for i includingA a tubular body having a fixed jaw at one end, a movable jaw carried by the" Vnormally separated, a feathered connection between the screw and-the floating lever,

and cooperating means upon the' elongated nut and the differential nut foi` limiting their relative rotation in one direction, said means including an arcuate wing extending' from the elongated nut, and an arcuate lug upon the differential nut in the path of the wing.

' 7. A friction grip including a tubular body, a fixed jaw at one end'thereof, a floating 'lever mounted for rotation on the body, a driving'v disk connected tothe lever and constituting a closure for one end of the body, a movable jaw slidable within the body and cooperating with the fixed jaw,

means having a feathered' connection withl the driving disk for moving the movable jaw at a high speed to grip. an object against the fixed jaw duringa portion ofthe movement of theifloat'ing` lever, aspring for holdingsaid feathered connection yieldingly pressed in one direction during the advancement of the movable jaw to gripping posi'- tion, slow speed feeding means within the body, and means actuated by retardation of' the movement ofthe movable jaw for over'- coming the action of the spring and coupling said slow speed feeding means to the driving diskduring the completion of the movement' of the floatin'glever, therebyv to" continue movement ofthe movable jaw at a greatly reduced speed to'increase its grip upon the` objectl between the jaws.r

'.8.` A frictionA grip including a tubular body having a fixed jaw at one end, a floating lever mounted for rotation on the body for actuation by an obstruction in the path thereof, a movable jawV including 'an elon- Y gated block, there bein'gslots in the body for sliding engagement by the block, a screw rotatableV in the body having threads of a coarse pitch and threads of a liner'pitCli, a' feathered connection between the floating lever and the screw, means 'operated bythe coarsely pitched threads for shifting the movable jaw toward gripping position ata high speed during a part of the movement of the vfloating lever, a' differential nut in engagement with lthe finer pitched threads,

yielding means for holding said nut in inactive position duringV the rapid feeding of themovable j aw, a clutch member within the body, said differential nut being shiftable against said clutch member byretardation of the feeding movement of the movable'jaw on contact with an object in the paththereof, thereby to hold the differential nut against rotation and feed the vmovable aw at a' greatly reduced speed during the 'completiony of the movement of the floating lever.

c 9. A friction grip for aerial tramways and the like including a tubular body having' a fixed jaw, said body being adjustable 'angularly about its longitudinal aXis, amovable jaw carried byvr the body, a leverk connected' to the body for actuation bya trip in the path thereof, quickly operable means `for transmitting motion fiom'the lever to the movablejaw during a portion of the movement of the leverthereby to grip an object between the jaws, slow speed feedingmeans,` and means controlled by contact of the inovablejaw with .the gi'ipped'object for coupling the slow 'speed feeding means to the lever to actuate themovable at'a re'- duced speed rand, gradually increase the clamping upon the grippedv objectr during the completion of the movement ofthelever, and means .for permitting' free flow of air into and out of the body during the'actuation of thefjaw. i, i l

10'.v A frictiongrip'for tramways and the like including a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a lever, mea-ns actuated bythe lever forV imparting a quick movement to the movable jaw relative to the fixed jaw, and means controlled by the contact of the"movable jaw with an object between the `jaws for reducing the speed of the movablev jaw but iii-- creasing the power transmitted thereto from the lever.

Intestimony that VI claimthe foregoinghereto' affixed my signa-I as my own, I have ture.

1 FRANK-WARD REILLY. 

